Package-forming machine

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an apparatus for forming a package from a plurality of containers and a wraparound carrier blank. The apparatus includes a mechanism for transferring a blank from a hopper to a mechanism which applies the same to a group of bottles. The mechanism includes means for at least partially separating a lowermost blank from immediately adjacent blanks and a pair of articulately mounted gripping heads which prevent slippage between each gripped blank and the heads, as well as means for bowing each blank during the removal thereof. Articles about which the blanks are wrapped are bottom supported by individual grouped supporting elements while being conveyed by pusher lugs. Means are provided for conveying different numbers of articles and/or different sizes thereof and means are provided for adjusting the relative position of each pusher lug and associated supporting elements depending upon the particular number and/or size of containers being conveyed. The pusher lugs are articulately carried by endless members to components for accurately sized articles and prevent breakage or damage thereto during the conveying operation.

United States Patent [72] inventor Robert 11. Ganz Bergenfield, NJ.

211 Appl. No. 862,567

[22] Filed Aug. 1, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 14, 1971 [73] AssigneeContinental Can Company, Inc.

New York, N.Y.

Original application Sept. 27, 1967, Ser- No. 670,882. Divided and thisapplication Aug. 1, 1969, Ser. No. 862,567

[54] PACKAGE-FORMING MACHINE 17 Claims, 20 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 271/32, 271/12 [51] lnt.Cl. B65h 3/08, B65h 5/16 [50] Fieldof Search 271/29, 19, 20, 32,11, 12,5

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,624,740 4/1927 Jones271/32 1,689,756 10/1928 Swangren 271/32 3,016,808 1/1962 Galloway3,322,301 5/1967 Bliss Primary ExaminerEvon C. Blunk AssistantExaminer.loseph Wegbreit Attorney-Diner, Brown, Ramik & Holt carrierblank. The apparatus includes a mechanism for transferring a blank froma hopper to a mechanism which applies the same to a group of bottles.The mechanism includes means for at least partially separating alowermost blank from immediately adjacent blanks and a pair ofarticulately mounted gripping heads which prevent slippage between eachgripped blank and the heads, as well as means for bowing each blankduring the removal thereofJArticles about which the blanks are wrappedare bottom supported by individual grouped supporting elements whilebeing conveyed by pusher lugs. Means are provided for conveyingdifferent numbers of articles and/or different sizes thereof and meansare provided for adjusting the relative position of each pusher lug andassociated supporting elements depending upon the particular numberand/or size of containers being conveyed. The pusher lugs arearticulately carried by endless members to components for accuratelysized articles and prevent breakage or damage thereto during theconveying operation.

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ATTORNEYS PATENTED 05c i 4 MI SHEET 10oF 10 wmw ATTORNEYSPACKAGE-FORMING MACHINE This is a division of my copending applicationSer. No. 670,882, entitled PACKAGE FORMING MACHINE, filed Sept. 27,1967.

It is relatively well known to form wraparound-type packages from aplurality of articles, such as glass or plastic bottles, metallic cansor similar containers, by conveying the articles along a predeterminedpath and progressively wrapping a carrier blank about selected groups ofthe articles. The carrier blanks are normally individually removed froma hopper and advanced above and in timed relationship with the conveyedarticles. Conventional folders, such as rotating blades or discs,progressively folding individual carrier blanks about the groupedarticles toward a generally tubular configuration after which, dependingupon the carrier blank structure, the carrier blanks are secured in thegenerally tubular configuration thereof by, for example, interengageablelocking tabs and openings fonned in closure panels of the blanks.

Such conventional apparatuses are, for the most part, quite acceptablebut distinct disadvantages have been found to exist in conventionalmechanisms thereof. One major disadvantage is the inability ofconventional blank feeding or removing mechanisms to transfer a blankfrom a hopper to a conveying mechanism without slippage and/ormisalignment between the blank and the group of bottles about which theblank is subsequently wrapped. Exact alignment is particularly desirablein blanks having openings for receiving the necks of articles beingwrapped and/or interlockable latching tabs and openings. If misalignmentoccurs between the neck-receiving opening and the container neckmachine-jamming can occur and interlocking of the closure panels isimpossible, thereby increasing downtime for adjustment, repairs, etc.and/or the information of packages which are unlatched, insecurelylatched and unacceptable.

Another disadvantage of conventional apparatuses is the excessivemachine changeover time required to alter a conventional apparatus towrap a predetermined number and/or size of containers after a differentnumber and/or size of containers have been initially wrapped. It isquite common for a packager to, for example, wrap containers in groupsof six with three containers to a line and two containers to a group(2X3), resulting in the conventional six-pack package. Each container isgenerally of the same overall size although the sizes may vary somewhatbecause of manufacturing tolerances. After the completion of thesix-pack run it may be desirable to form 2X4 or 2X2 packages of the sameor different size containers or 2X3 packages of a different sizearticles than those of the first run. When the containers are eachbottom-supported by an individual conventional supporting element andconveyed by conventional pusher lugs the changeover time is appreciablebecause of the necessary reorientation between the pusher lugs and thesupporting elements resulting, of course, in increased packaging costs.

Another disadvantage which is more particularly related to the wrappingof frangible containers, such as glass bottles, is the problem ofbreakage when the bottles are conveyed by conventional pusher-typemechanisms. Such mechanisms generally include a pair of endless membersand a plurality of pusher lugs carried by each which engage between thetrailing bottle of a leading group of bottles and the leading bottle ofa trailing group of bottles. If the bottles are oversize, generallybecause of manufacturing tolerances, the normal center-tocenter distancebetween trailing and leading bottles of leading and trailing groups,respectively, is foreshortened and the pusher lug which should normallyenter this space and contact the trailing bottle of the leading groupinstead contacts the leading bottle of the trailing group and the latterbottle normally breaks or tips over thereby resulting in an improperlywrapped package and/or machine jamming.

In keeping with the specifically noted and other disadvantages ofconventional packaging apparatuses, it is a primary object of thisinvention to provide a novel apparatus which completely overcomes thenoted disadvantages by preventing relative slippage between a blankremoved from the hopper and the mechanism removing the same, providingmeans for rapidly adjusting the apparatus for successive runs ofdifferent size and/or numbers of articles to be wrapped, andadditionally providing novel conveying means which prevent the breakageof frangible containers or other damage to other though nonfrangiblecontainers.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel apparatus ofthe type immediately heretofore set forth wherein the mechanism forremoving each blank from an associated hopper includes means for forminga gap between the two lowermost blanks in a hopper, and means for bowingthe lowermost blank during the removal thereof from the hopper wherebyslippage of the removed blank and the removing means is precluded.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel apparatusconstructed in accordance with the aforementioned objects andadditionally including means for articulately mounting the pusher lugsto their associated endless conveying member whereby any pusher lugwhich contacts any conveyed container other than a trailing container ofa group of containers can automatically shift away from the contactedcontainer to its desired proper position adjacent and behind a tailingcontainer.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel apparatus ofthe type described including a pair of endless support conveyors each ofwhich includes a plurality of supporting elements arranged in groups forindividually bottom-supporting each container, a pair of endless pusherconveyors associated with the supporting conveyors, and means forproviding relative adjustment between each pusher lug and its associatedgroup of supporting elements whereby different groups of containersvarying in size or number may be wrapped by the apparatus.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appearthe nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a fragmentary plan view of an apparatus constructed inaccordance with this invention for wrapping containers inwraparound-type carrier blanks and illustrates a hopper from which alowermost blank is removed by a feeding mechanism and fed in generallyoverlying relationship to groups of containers individually supported byfingerlike supporting elements of a supporting conveyor while beingconveyed from left-toqight by a pair of pusher conveyors.

FIG. 2a is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally alongline 2a-2a of FIG. 1, and more clearly illustrates the blank feedingmechanism and one of a pair of articulately mounted gripping headsthereof.

FIG. 2b is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken generally alongline 2b-2b of FIG. 1, and illustrates means for initiating the foldingof the blank toward a tubular configuration about a group of containers.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view with certain parts broken awayfor clarity taken generally along line 33 of FIG. 2b, and more clearlyillustrates the supporting and conveying means, and means for providingrelative adjustment between pusher lugs of the conveying means andassociated groups of supporting elements of the supporting means.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally alongline 4-4 of FIG. 1, and illustrates the gripping heads of the blankfeeding mechanism adjacent and on opposite sides of a predetermined pathalong which the containers are advanced.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the blank feedingmechanism, and illustrates the gripping means in the uppermost positionthereof and means for cyclically driving the gripping means tosuccessively remove lowermost ones of the blanks from the hopper.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the blank feedingmechanism, and illustrates a blank carried by the gripping head justafter being removed from the hopper.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the blank feedingmechanism, and illustrates the blank being positioned upon a group ofcontainers during the advancement of the blank and the containers.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 8-8 ofFIG. 7, and illustrates means for bowing the removed blank, andlost-motion means connecting each gripping head to an associated arm ofthe feeding mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 8, and illustrates theposition of the blank just prior to the release thereof by the grippingmeans.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of one of the gripping heads, and moreclearly illustrates the manner in which the gripping head is connectedto its associated arm.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 11-11of FIG. 7, and illustrates means for guiding side panels of the blankabout the outer peripheries of the containers.

FIG. 12 is a highly enlarged sectional view taken generally along line12-12 of FIG. 3, and illustrates the means for adjusting each pusher lugof the conveying means relative to its associated group of underlyingsupporting elements of the supporting means.

FIG. 13a is a highly diagrammatic view of a plurality of correctly sizedcontainers, and illustrates a pusher lug articulately carried by theconveying means entering a space between a trailing container of aleading group of containers and a leading container of a trailing groupof containers.

FIG. 13b is a view similar to FIG. 13a, and illustrates a plurality ofcontainers at least some of which are of an incorrect size, and themanner in which the pusher lug is deflected by the leading container ofthe trailing group toward a position for subsequent contact with thetrailing container of the leading group.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are fragmentary top plan views similar to FIG. 13b, andillustrate the final position of the pusher lug and its associatedtrailing container.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the supportingmeans, and illustrates in relationship between three containers of aparticular size the group of supporting elements associated therewithand one of the pusher lugs of the conveying means.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary top plan view of the apparatus similar to FIG.16, and illustrates the same group of supporting elements and pusher lugafter being adjusted relative to each other for advancing containers ofa larger size than those illustrated in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a highly enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of aportion of one of the gripping heads, and illustrates means carriedthereby for partially separating a lowermost blank in the hopper from animmediately adjacent upper blank incident to the removal of thelowermost blank therefrom.

Reference is first made to FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings which fullyillustrate the novel apparatus 20 for forming a package from awraparound-type carrier blank B and a plurality of containers C. Theapparatus 20 includes a frame 21 having lateral sides 22, 23 betweenwhich are disposed a mechanism 25 for correctly spacing and aligning thecontainers C as they are advanced from left-to-right (FIG. 3), amechanism for feeding blanks in generally superimposed relationship to agroup of the containers, means for folding each blank about anassociated group of the containers, means for bottom-supporting theindividual containers of each group, means for conveying each group ofcontainers in timed relationship with the supporting means 40, and meansfor interlockingly securing closure panels of each blank to each otherto complete the formation of the packages.

The containers C are initially fed from left-to-right by a pair ofinfeed conveyors 26, 27 having upper runs disposed in a horizontal planesubstantially coplanar with a transfer plate 28 which is conventionallysupported medially of the walls 22, 23. The transfer of the containers Cfrom the conveyors 26, 27 to the plate 28 is effected by the separatingor grouping means 25 in the manner best illustrated in FIG. 3 of thedrawings.

The spacing means 25 include a pair of endless conveyor members 29, 31carrying a plurality of separating elements 32. The endless member 29 isentrained about sprocket 33, 34 and a guide 36 while the endless member31 is entrained about sprockets 37, 38 and a guide 41. The guides 38, 41define generally converging and diverging upstream and downstreamportions of the separator means 25 to facilitate the respectiveintroduction and withdrawal of the separating elements 32 relative tothe containers C.

The sprockets 33, 37 are keyed to shafts (unnumbered) which are suitablyjoumaled to the frame 21 of the apparatus 20. The sprockets 34, 38 aresimilarly keyed to shafts 42, 43, respectively, (FIGS. 3 and 4) whichare in turn supported from the walls 22, 23 by respective joumalingbrackets 44, 46. The lower ends of the shafts 42, 43 carry beveled gears47, 48 which are in mesh with respective gears 49, 51 keyed to a shaft52 which is joumaled between the walls 22, 23. A sprocket 53 is alsokeyed to the shaft and a main drive chain 54 connects the sprocket 53with a main drive motor (not shown).

When the motor is in operation the main drive sprocket 53 and itsassociated main drive shaft 52 are rotated in a counterclockwisedirection as viewed from the sidewall 23 toward the sidewall 22. Thiscounterclockwise rotation of the shaft 52 imparts clockwise rotation tothe sprocket 38 and its associated endless member 31 andcounterclockwise rotation to the sprocket 34 and its associated endlessmember 29. The innermost runs (unnumbered) of the endless members 29, 31are therefore advanced from left-to-right at identical speeds with thespacing element 32 in transverse alignment thereby both advancing thecontainers C and correctly spacing the containers to receive thereonindividual blanks B removed from a hopper 56 of the blank removing andfeeding means 30.

The hopper 56 of the blank removing and feeding mechanism 30 is mountedfor adjustable movement upwardly and downwardly relative to the transferplate 28, as well as being adjustable to receive various size blanks B.The hopper 56 includes a pair of lateral side rails 57, 58 adjacent andgenerally parallel to the sidewalls 22, 23. The rails 57, 58 eachinclude an identical slot 60. The rails 57, 58 are secured to respectivevertical supports 61, 62 (FIGS. 1, 2a and 4). Each of the verticalsupports 61, 62 carries a rack 63 at a lower end portion thereof whichis in meshed relationship with an associated gear 64 fixed to a shaft65. The shaft 65 includes a handwheel 66 adjacent the sidewall 23 whichcan be manually grasped and rotated to rotate the shaft 65, theassociated gears 64 and thereby raise or lower the supports 61,62 whichare guided during the movement thereof in slotted housing 67, 68 securedto respective walls 22, 23 (FIG. 1).

A pair of rails 70, 71 are positioned generally normal to the rails 57,58, and are joined thereto in adjustable relationship by bolts(unnumbered) received in the slots 60. The rails 70, 71 can thereby bemoved toward or away from each other to vary the size of the hopper toaccommodate blanks of different widths.

A stack of blanks are supported in the hopper 56 by a plurality ofsupporting tongues 72 through 77. The tongues 72, 73 and 74, 75 areconnected to the respective rails 70, 71 by respective vertical guides78, 79 and conventional fasteners (unnumbered). Transverse edges of thestack of blanks are supported by the tongues 76, 77 which, as bestillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 of the drawings, are carried by the rails57, 58 and can be adjusted normal thereto by the unnumbered slot andbolt connections shown in these figures. Therefore, by adjusting therails 70, 71 toward or away from each other the tongues 72 through 75can be spacedto increase or decrease the width of the hopper while thetongues 76, 77 may be adjusted to increase or decrease the lengththereof. In this manner the hopper 56 can be quickly varied in size toaccommodate blanks of different lengths, widths and configurations.

A pair of means, each generally designated by the reference numeral 80(FIGS. 2a and 4) are provided for gripping each lowermost blank in thehopper 56, removing the blank therefrom, and advancing the blank in thedirection of container travel to assemble the gripped blank and aselected group of the containers. The pair of blank gripping means 80are generally identical to each other and each includes a generallyT-shaped gripping head 81 (FIG. having a base 83 and a leg 82 which isapertured at 84 and carries a pin 85. A pair of vacuum or suction cups86, 87 is secured to and is placed in fluid communication with aconventional valved vacuum source (not shown). Means 88 in the form ofan upstanding rigid post is associated with each gripping head 81adjacent the vacuum cup 86 for partially separating the lowermost blankin the hopper 56 from an immediately adjacent upper blank to preventmore than one blank from being removed from the hopper during theoperation of the mechanism 30, as will appear more fully hereafter.Means 89 in the form of a rigid upstanding post which is peripherallyrelieved to define a plurality of shoulders 90-92 is also carried byeach gripping head 81 adjacent the blank separating means 88. Theshoulders 90-92 of each of the means 89 function to overlyingly contactan uppermost surface of the blank being removed by the gripping means 80to prevent relative slippage between the blank and the gripping meansduring the removal of the blank from the hopper and the subsequenttransfer to the group of containers in a manner which will also appearmore apparent hereafter.

Each gripping head 81 is pivotally connected to a two-piece arm 93having a slot and bolt connection 94 (FIG. 2a) for adjusting the lengthof the arms. Each gripping head 81 is connected to its associated arm 93by a lost-motion link 95 and a pair of pins 96, 97. The pin 96 isreceived in openings 98, 99 of its associated arm 93 and link 95 whilethe pin 97 is received in another aperture 100 of the link 95 and theaperture 84 of the gripping head leg 83. A spring 101 is connectedbetween the pin 85 and a pin 102 (FIGS. 2a, 4 and 7) carried by the arm93. The function of the spring 101 is to normally bias the base 82 ofeach of the gripping heads 81 into contact with a ledge or stop 103 ofeach arm 93 to maintain the gripping heads 81 in a generally horizontalplane, in the manner illustrated in phantom outline in FIG. 8 of thedrawings.

A lower end portion (unnumbered) of each of the arms 93 carries a pin104 which is guidingly slidingly received in a slot 105 of a verticalplate 106 secured rigidly to the base (unnumbered) of the framework 21.

Each of the arms 93 is connected to a shaft 108 by a link 109 which ispivotally connected at 110 to the arm 93 and rigidly connected at itsopposite end to the shaft 108. The shaft 108 is journaled between thewalls 22, 23 and has fixedly connected thereto a link 111. The link 111has a cam follower 112 at its terminal end which engages against a camsurface 113 of a cam 114. The cam 114 is connected to the shaft 52which, as was heretofore noted, rotates in a counterclockwise directionas viewed in FIGS. 2a and 7.

Assuming that the gripping means 80 are positioned as viewed in FIG. 2aof the drawings and the shaft 52 is rotating counterclockwise, the camsurface 113 acting against the cam followed 112 turns the link 111 in aclockwise direction which rotates the shaft 108 in the same directionalong with each of the links 109. The clockwise motion of the links 109imparts upward and rearwardmovement to the arms 93 and the grippingheads 81 carried thereby due to the upward guiding movement of each pin104 in its associated slot 105 until the elements of the mechanism 30are in the position illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings.

Assuming the vacuum cups 86, 87 were placed in fluid communication justprior to contact with the lowermost blank subsequent downward movementof the gripping means 80 toward the position shown in FIG. 6 of thedrawings might cause not only the removal of the lowermost blank but anext succeeding blank unless otherwise provided for. In the instant casethe removal of the next lowermost blank is prevented by forming at leasta partial gap G (FIG. 18) between the two lowermost blanks by the posts88. During the upward movement of each gripping head 81 its associatedpost 88 contacts the lowermost blank and deforms the material bycompressing and reducing the normal thickness thereof. This slightlylifts all of the blanks above the lowermost blank to form the gap Gwhich materially reduces the area of contact between the lowermost andnext succeeding blank thereby reducing frictional and drag forces. Itshould also be noted that in the absence of the gap G the vacuum drawnthrough the porous material (paperstock) of the lowermost blank wouldalso affeet the next blank and both could be withdrawn from the hopper.However, the gap permits air to be drawn from the lateral sides of theblanks under the influence of any vacuum drawn through the porouslowermost blank thereby precluding the withdrawal of a next succeedingblank.

Referring again to FIG. 5 of the drawings, it will be noted that therelieved posts 89 of each of the gripping heads 81 are positionedslightly (one-sixteenth inch) to the left of the leftmost edge of theblanks in the hopper 56. Any tendency of the blank carried by thegripping means to move rearward is thereby resisted by each of therelieved posts 89 while any tendency of the blank to move upwardly andaway from the gripping heads is prevented by the shoulders -92. In thismanner relative movement or slippage between the gripped blank and thegripping heads is substantially reduced, maintained at a minimum and inmost cases eliminated completely, thereby maintaining the blank properlyaligned for subsequent application to a group of the containers C.

With the continued rotation of the shaft 52 the gripping heads 81 movefrom the position shown in FIG. 6 toward the position illustrated inFIG. 7. During this movement opposite ends of the blank carried by thegripping means 80 are bowed (FIG. 8), a central portion of the blank issupported, and a leading edge of the blank is guided downwardly and tothe right both by the movement of the anns 93, a pair of guides andpivoting movement of the gripping heads, as will be more apparentimmediately hereafter.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 8 of the drawings, it will be seen that asthe gripping heads 81 descend from the phantom outline position in FIG.8 toward the solid line position thereof opposite end portions of thegripped and removed blank contact rails 120, 121 which are in turnsupported by the respective tongues 76, 77. A centermost portion or toppanel of the blank is also drawn into contact with an upper surface of asupport 122 having an end portion 123 connected to the rail 70 and anopposite terminal end portion. Therefore, as the blank is drawndownwardly it initially contacts the rails 120, 121 and the support 122at which time the blank is disposed entirely horizontally. However, asthe arms 93 continue to descend and move in the direction of containertravel like movement of the gripping heads begins to how the blank whichfacilitates the guiding of the container necks (unnumbered) intoneck-receiving openings (also not shown) of the blank. Slippage betweenthe gripping heads and the blanks during this bowing is precluded by thelost-motion connection of each gripping head to its associated arm 93.Any tendency of the vacuum cups to release the blank or shift relativeto the blank is prevented by the movement of the gripping heads closertoward the containers C as the blank is bowed due to the lost-motionconnection, as is readily apparent from a comparison of the uppermostgripping heads 81 in phantom outline in FIG. 8 and the solid outlineillustration in this same figure. As the gripped blank reaches theposition illustrated in FIG. 9 of the drawings the vacuum to the cups86, 87 is discontinued and the gripping heads are drawn from the solidto the phantom outline position in FIG. 9 by the associated springs 101.

Just prior to the release of each blank by the gripping means 80, theforwardmost edge of the blank is positioned beneath three rollers124-126 (FIG. 4) which are supported for vertical adjustment from therail 71. The forward edge of the side panels of the blank are alsoprogressively guided downwardly into generally embracing relationship tothe group of containers by inclined guide surfaces 127, 128 ofrespective guides 129, 130, carried by the rail 71 (FIGS. 1 and 4). Aleaf spring 131 (FIGS. 1 and 11) between the guides 129, 130 urges thetop panel of the blank into intimate engagement with the upper surfaceof the support 122 and the blank is now positioned for further foldingby the mechanism 35. It is to be noted that the guides and the leafspring are carried by a generally U-shaped frame 132 connected to therail 71 and are therefore moved with the rail 71 during any adjustmentthereof.

After the blank and containers pass beyond the guides 129, 130 rotatingfolders 135, 136 (FIGS. 1, 2b and 9) disposed outboard of the respectiveguides 129, 130 fold the blank to the configuration thereof illustratedin FIG. 11 as the folders rotate with a shaft 137 to which they arekeyed. The shaft 137 (FIG. 1) is journaled between the walls 22, 23, andis rotated by means of a sprocket 138, a drive chain 139 and a sprocket140 keyed to the shaft 52 (FIG. 4).

As the blank and group of containers pass beyond the folding mechanism35 the top panel of the blank is urged into intimate conformingrelationship with the containers by means of three rotating rollers 142,143 and 144 fixed to a shaft 145 (FIG. 1) which is journaled between thewalls 22, 23. The shaft 145 is driven by a chain 146 through sprockets147, 148 fixed to the respective shafts 137, 145. The rollers 142through 144 preferably include resilient peripheral surfaces and are sospaced along the shaft 145 that the roller 143 urges the top paneldownwardly along its centerline while the rollers 142, 144 urge shoulderside panels of the blank downwardly and into intimate engagingrelationship with the shoulders (unnumbered) of the containers.

The leading and trailing edges of each of the blanks B illustrated inthe drawings is provided with respective forwardly and rearwardlydirected end-identification panels which are designed to be deflecteddownwardly to a position substantially normal to the axis of thecompleted tubular package. In order to deflect those end-identificationpanels of the top panels downwardly a pair ofindenting blades 150, 151(FIGS. I and 2b) are fixed to and rotatably carried by a shaft 152journaled between the sidewalls 22, 23. The indenting blades 150, 151each includes a cam lobe portion 153, and are so driven as to firstdeflect the leading end-identification panel downwardly during a firstrevolution of the shaft 152 and the trailing end-identification paneldownwardly during the next succeeding revolution. The drive for theshaft 152 and the indenting blades carried thereby is through a pair ofsprockets I49, 154 keyed to the shafts 137, 152, respectively, and achain 155 entrained about these sprockets.

Referring to FIG. 2b of the drawings, it is to be noted that thetransfer plate 28 terminates adjacent and substantially in a commonplane with the supporting means 40. At this point of transition thecontainers are individually bottom-supported by the supporting meanswhile being now advanced by the conveying means 45.

Reference is made particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings whichillustrate the supporting means 40 as being formed by a pair of endlesschains or members 160, 161 and the conveying means 45 as a similar pairof endless chains or conveyors 162, 163 positioned above the endlessmembers 160, 161. The endless member 160 is entrained about sprockets164 through 167 keyed to vertical shafts (unnumbered) suitably journaledto the frame 21 while the endless member 162 is similarly entrainedabout sprockets 165 through 171 keyed to respective unnumbered shaftsjournaled to the frame 21, it being noted that the sprockets 164 and 168are connected to an identical shaft 172 for a reason to be more fullyset forth hereafter. The endless member 161 is likewise entrained aboutsprockets 174 through 177 while the endless member 163 is entrainedabout sprockets 178 through 181, it being noted that the sprockets 174,178 are likewise carried by a common shaft 182 (FIGS. 3 and 12).

The inner runs of the supporting and conveying mechanisms 40, 45,respectively, are driven from left to right by means of a pair of drivechains 190, 191 entrained about and driven by sprockets 192, 193connected to the respective shafts 43, 42 (FIG. 4) and a sprocket 194connected to each of the shafts 172, 182 in the manner best illustratedin FIG. 12 of the drawings.

The following description of the relationship between the sprockets 174,178 and the relationship thereof to the endless members 161, 163 isequally applicable to the sprockets 164, 168 and the associated endlessmembers 160, 162. As is readily apparent from FIG. 12 of the drawingsthe sprockets 174, 194 are commonly secured to the shaft 182 by a key196. The sprockets 174, 178 are secured to each other by a pair of bolts197, 198 which project through arcuate slots 200, 201 respectively ofthe sprocket 178 and are in threaded engagement with threaded apertures202, 203. The arcuate configuration of the slots formed in the sprocket178 is best illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Upon loosening thebolts 197, 198 the sprocket 178 can be turned clockwise orcounterclockwise to move the endless member 162 relative to the endlessmember 161. Upon repositioning these endless members the bolts 197, 198may again be tightened to secure the sprocket 178 to the sprocket 174after which the selected relative position of the endless members 161,163 remains unchanged unless the bolts 197, 198 are again loosened. Thisrelative adjustment between the endless members 161, 163, as well assimilar relative movement of the endless members 160, 162 permits therapid adjustment of the mechanisms 40,45 to accommodate differentnumbers of containers being wrapped by each blank, as will be moreapparent hereafter.

Each of the endless members 160, 161 carries a plurality of identicalgroups 205 of supporting elements 206, 207, 208 and 209. Each supportingelement 206 through 209 includes a finger 210 having a centerline 21 1.The function of the fingers 210 is to enter into an associated opening(unnumbered) in the side panels of the blanks and engage the bottommostsurface of each container to support the same during the movementthereof from left to right in the manner more fully disclosed in thecommonly assigned application to Robert H. Ganz, Ser. No. 623,893, filedMar. 17, I967. However, in addition to so functioning the supportingelements 206 are constructed and arranged in the groups 205 to transferdifferent numbers of the containers during different runs and/ordifferent numbers and sizes of containers during different runs toreduce the changeover time required by similar conventional apparatuses.

As is best illustrated in FIG. 16 of the drawings, the groups 205 ofsupporting elements 206 through 209 are spaced from each other apredetermined distance and in the example illustrated in FIG. 16 thepitch center is 13 inches as measured between the centerlines of the twoillustrated supporting elements 209, 209. It will be also noted that thedistance between the centerline of the supporting elements 206 through208 and a leftmost edge of each is l% inches while the distance betweenthe centerline of each of those same supporting elements to itsrightmost edge is 1% inches. However, the supporting element 209 of eachgroup 205 is positioned such that the distance between its centerlineand its leftmost edge is l% inches while the distance between itscenterline and the rightmost edge is l% inches. Thus, assuming as in theillustrated embodiment of the invention that containers having 2% inchesdiameters are being wrapped by each of the blanks B, each container issupported upon each of the supporting elements 206, 207 and 208 but nocontainers are supported by the supporting elements 209 as shown in FIG.16. If after wrapping six-packs of 2% inches diameter containers apackager desires to wrap, for example, four-pack packages of containershaving 2% inches diameters the containers are supported upon thesupporting elements 208, 209, as illustrated in FIG. 17 of the drawings.The center-to-center distance of the fingers of the supporting elements208, 209 is 2% inches, thereby corresponding closely to thecenter-to-center distance (2% inches) of the containers. This changeoverbetween the numbers and/or sizes of the containers between two differentruns is therefore accomplished without in any way altering thesupporting elements 206 through 209, and all that is required is toreposition a pusher lug 215 of the mechanism 45 relative to itsassociated group 205 of supporting elements. This repositioning isaccomplished by the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 12, as well as thesimilar unillustrated mechanism associated with the sprockets 164, 168,in the manner heretofore described. Therefore, assuming again the 2%inches diameter containers are being conveyed as illustrated in FIG. 16the pusher 215 shown in this figure contacts the trailing container asdoes a similar pusher (not shown) transversely opposite thereto toadvance the containers from left to right as they are supported on eachof the supporting elements 206 through 208. However, in the case of thelarger diameter containers the endless members are shifted relative toeach other to bring the pusher 215 of FIG. 17 to a position at which thetrailing container supported upon the supporting element 208 iscontacted to advance these containers to the right simultaneously withthe support thereof upon the supporting elements 208, 209. Thus, withoutappreciable effort or delay the simultaneously driven mechanisms 40, 45can be stopped, shifted relative to each other depending upon the sizeand/or number of containers to be packaged, and restarted for anotherpackaging run.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 13a through of the drawings whichillustrate the manner in which the pusher lugs of the mechanismautomatically compensate for incorrectly sized containers beingtransported by the mechanisms 40, 45. In FIG. 13a a plurality ofcontainers which are each of a correct external diameter are shown beingadvanced to the right as the pusher lug 215 enters a space between thetrailing container of a leading group of containers and a leadingcontainer of a trailing group of containers. The pusher lug 215 is of agenerally J-shaped configuration and includes a leg 216 positionedbetween a pair of ears 217, 218 ofa leading link of the endless memberand a pair of ears 219, 220 ofa trailing link. A pin connected betweenthe ears 217, 218 is passed through an inclined slot 221 formed in theleg 216 with the slot having an axis disposed at an angle ofapproximately 45 degrees when the leg 216 is in parallel relationship toits associated endless member (FIG. 14).

Again referring specifically to FIG. 13a of the drawings, assuming allof the containers are correctly sized the pusher lug enters the space orgap shown until contact is made with the trailing container (FIGS. 14and 15) after which the lug 215 and a transversely adjacent lug conveythe containers and the associated blank to the right as shown in thesefigures.

Assuming, however, that a container or a plurality of the containers isof an incorrect size, as shown in FIG. 13b of the drawings, any error inthe container size is compounded and unless otherwise provided for thepusher lug 215 cannot be properly presented to the trailing containersas necessary and leading containers are struck, broken or tipped over.For example, assuming that one or more of the containers in FIG. 13b areoversize diameterwise the centers of the containers shift to the rightas is readily apparent from a comparison of FIGS. 13!: and 13a, therebyresulting in the shifting of the gap between the trailing container of aleading group which is being wrapped and the leading container of atrailing group. When this occurs in conventional apparatuses and is nototherwise provided for a rigidly mounted lug would move to the phantomoutline position illustrated in FIG. 13b thereby breaking the contactedcontainer or toppling over the same. However, any of the pusher lugs 215which contact a container in the manner illustrated inphantom outline inFIG. 13b are cammed to the right to the solid position by the contactwith this container and the slot and pin arrangement for entry into thespace between the two containers. The pusher lug of FIG. 13b is, ineffect, cammed inwardly to the right during its movement and enters thegap between the containers irrespective of variations in the diameterswhich in accordance with the invention may be as high as 56-inchvariance between every three containers.

The mechanism 50 completes the formation of the package in the mannerfully disclosed in the noted application, and a further descriptionthereof is believed unnecessary for a complete understanding of thisinvention.

It is believed apparent from the foregoing that novel and advantageousprovisions have been made for carrying out the desired ends, but it isto be understood that variations may be made in the disclosed apparatuswithout departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Forexample, the arrangement of the supporting elements 206 through 209 canbe changed, if necessary, to accommodate packages other than 2X3(six-pack), 2X4 (eight-pack), and 2X2 (four-pack) between 2% inches to2% inches diameters, as can now be accommodated by the disclosedarrangement. The numbers of supporting elements in each group 205 can beincreased or decreased and variations in the center-to-center distancebetween the fingers 210 may be achieved by, for example, removing anyone of the supporting elements from its as sociated endless member,rotating the same I, and reattaching the supporting element to theendless member. Each supporting finger 210 is also removed from theposition shown in FIG. 12 and inserted in the unnumbered lower slotthereby maintaining all the supporting fingers 210 in an identicalhorizontal plane.

It is also pointed out that while blanks of the neck-through type havebeen disclosed herein the apparatus is equally adapted to formingpassages of the type in which the containers are completely housedwithin the blank and top end portions or necks thereof do not projectthrough nonexistent openings of the blank. In such cases the supportwould be inactive, as is illustrated in FIG. 9 of the drawings.

While preferred forms and arrangement of parts have been shown inillustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that variouschanges in details and arrangement of parts may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theappended claimed subject matter.

Iclaim:

1. A blank feeding mechanism comprising a hopper adapted to house aplurality of blanks in generally stacked relationship, means forremoving an individual blank from the hopper, said removing meansincluding means for gripping a first surface of the blank inboard of itsperipheral edge, means for contactingly engaging an opposite surface ofthe blank adjacent its peripheral edge whereby the engagement of bothblank surfaces prevents undesirable shifting of the blank relative tothe removing means during the movement of the blank by the removingmeans, and means for simultaneously moving said removing means and saidengaging means in unison toward and away from said hopper.

2. The blank feeding mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein saidgripping means is defined by vacuum means, and said engaging means is asurface in overlying opposed relationship to the opposite surface of ablank carried by said removing means.

3. The blank feeding mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein saidengaging means is a post carried by said removing means, and said postis provided with a relieved portion defining a shoulder having a surfacein overlying opposed relationship to the opposite surface of a blankcarried by said removing means.

4. The blank feeding mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein saidengaging means is a post carried by said removing means, said post isprovided with a relieved portion defining a shoulder having a surface inoverlying opposed relationship to the opposite surface of a blankcarried by said removing means, and tapered surface means above saidshoulder for guiding said shoulder into overlying opposed relationshipto the opposite surface of a blank prior to the removal thereof fromsaid hopper.

5. The blank feeding mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein the surfaceof said engaging means is defined by a relieved portion of a postcarried by said removing means.

6. A blank feeding mechanism comprising a hopper adapted to house aplurality of blanks in generally stacked relationship, means forremoving an individual blank from the hopper, said removing means beingdefined by vacuum means for gripping a first surface of the blank, andmeans carried by said removing means for forming a gap between a blanknext adjacent the gripped blank and the gripped blank itself whereby theadjacent blank is prevented from being removed from the hopper upon theremoval of the gripped blank.

7. The blank feeding mechanism as defined in claim 6 wherein saidgap-forming means is a rigid projection which contacts and indents aportion of the gripped blank during. the gripping engagement of anadjacent portion of the gripped blank by said vacuum means.

8. The blank feeding mechanism as defined in claim 6 wherein saidremoving means additionally includes means for contactingly engaging anopposite surface of the gripped blank adjacent its peripheral edgewhereby the engagement of both blank surfaces prevents undesirableshifting of the blank relative to the removing means during the movementof the blank by the removing means, said engaging means is a membercarried by said removing means, and said member is provided with arelieved portion defining a shoulder having a surface in overlyingopposed relationship to the opposite surface of the gripped blank.

9. A blank feeding mechanism comprising a hopper adapted to house aplurality of blanks in generally stacked relationship, means forremoving a lowermost one of the blanks from the hopper and moving theremoved blank along a predetermined path, said removing means includinggripping means adjacent each side of said path, means for moving saidgripping means from a first position adjacent said hopper to a secondposition remote from said hopper, said gripping means being spaced fromeach other a predetermined distance in said first position, and meansfor reducing said predetermined distance during the movement of saidgripping means from said first to said second position whereby slippagebetween the gripping means and the gripped blank is prevented during themovement thereof from said first position toward said second position.

10. The blank feeding mechanism as defined in claim 9 wherein saidmoving means include an arm carrying each of said gripping means, andmeans for articulating said arms in a plane generally parallel to saidpredetermined path.

11. The blank feeding mechanism as defined in claim 9 wherein saidmoving means include an arm carrying each of said gripping means, andsaid reducing means includes floating connection means between eachgripping means and its associated am.

12. The blank feeding mechanism as defined in claim 9 wherein saidreducing means include pivot means having axes disposed generally in thedirection of said predetermined path.

13. The blank feeding mechanism as defined in claim 9 including means toeach outboard side of said gripping means and below said hopper forbowing gripped portions of the lowermost blank as the gripping meansmove from said first position to said second position.

14. The blank feeding mechanism as defined in claim 9 wherein saidmoving means include an arm carrying each of said gripping means, saidreducing means includes pivot means between each gripping means and itsassociated arm, and said pivot means have axes disposed in a planegenerally parallel to the direction of said predetermined path.

15. The blank feeding mechanism as defined in claim 9 wherein each ofsaid gripping means includes a gripping head, said reducing means isdisposed between its associated gripping head and said moving means,said reducing means includes link means pivotally connected between saidgripping head and moving means, and means normally biasing said grippinghead toward said moving means.

16. The blank feeding mechanism as defined in claim 15 wherein saidgripping means include vacuum means carried by each of said grippingheads for contactingly engaging a lower surface of a gripped blank,means carried by each gripping head for contactmgly engaging an oppositesurface 0 the gripped blank, and means carried by each gripping head andcooperative with its associated vacuum means for forming a gap betweenthe gripped blank and a next adjacent blank.

17. The blank feeding mechanism as defined in claim 16 wherein saidengaging means is an upstanding member having a relieved area defining ashoulder directed away from said hopper, and said gap forming meansincludes an upstanding member normally directed toward said hopper.

0 II t t l

1. A blank feeding mechanism comprising a hopper adapted to house aplurality of blanks in generally stacked relationship, means forremoving an individual blank from the hopper, said removing meansincluding means for gripping a first surface of the blank inboard of itsperipheral edge, means for contactingly engaging an opposite surface ofthe blank adjacent its peripheral edge whereby the engagement of bothblank surfaces prevents undesirable shifting of the blank relative tothe removing means during the movement of the blank by the removingmeans, and means for simultaneously moving said removing means and saidengaging means in unison toward and away from said hopper.
 2. The blankfeeding mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said gripping means isdefined by vacuum means, and said engaging means is a surface inoverlying opposed relationship to the opposite surface of a blankcarried by said removing means.
 3. The blank feeding mechanism asdefined in claim 1 wherein said engaging means is a post carried by saidremoving means, and said post is provided with a relieved portiondefining a shoulder having a surface in overlying opposed relationshipto the opposite surface of a blank carried by said removing means. 4.The blank feeding mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said engagingmeans is a post carried by said removing means, said post is providedwith a relieved portion defining a shoulder having a surface inoverlying opposed relationship to the opposite surface of a blankcarried by said removing means, and tapered surface means above saidshoulder for guiding said shoulder into overlying opposed relationshipTo the opposite surface of a blank prior to the removal thereof fromsaid hopper.
 5. The blank feeding mechanism as defined in claim 2wherein the surface of said engaging means is defined by a relievedportion of a post carried by said removing means.
 6. A blank feedingmechanism comprising a hopper adapted to house a plurality of blanks ingenerally stacked relationship, means for removing an individual blankfrom the hopper, said removing means being defined by vacuum means forgripping a first surface of the blank, and means carried by saidremoving means for forming a gap between a blank next adjacent thegripped blank and the gripped blank itself whereby the adjacent blank isprevented from being removed from the hopper upon the removal of thegripped blank.
 7. The blank feeding mechanism as defined in claim 6wherein said gap-forming means is a rigid projection which contacts andindents a portion of the gripped blank during the gripping engagement ofan adjacent portion of the gripped blank by said vacuum means.
 8. Theblank feeding mechanism as defined in claim 6 wherein said removingmeans additionally includes means for contactingly engaging an oppositesurface of the gripped blank adjacent its peripheral edge whereby theengagement of both blank surfaces prevents undesirable shifting of theblank relative to the removing means during the movement of the blank bythe removing means, said engaging means is a member carried by saidremoving means, and said member is provided with a relieved portiondefining a shoulder having a surface in overlying opposed relationshipto the opposite surface of the gripped blank.
 9. A blank feedingmechanism comprising a hopper adapted to house a plurality of blanks ingenerally stacked relationship, means for removing a lowermost one ofthe blanks from the hopper and moving the removed blank along apredetermined path, said removing means including gripping meansadjacent each side of said path, means for moving said gripping meansfrom a first position adjacent said hopper to a second position remotefrom said hopper, said gripping means being spaced from each other apredetermined distance in said first position, and means for reducingsaid predetermined distance during the movement of said gripping meansfrom said first to said second position whereby slippage between thegripping means and the gripped blank is prevented during the movementthereof from said first position toward said second position.
 10. Theblank feeding mechanism as defined in claim 9 wherein said moving meansinclude an arm carrying each of said gripping means, and means forarticulating said arms in a plane generally parallel to saidpredetermined path.
 11. The blank feeding mechanism as defined in claim9 wherein said moving means include an arm carrying each of saidgripping means, and said reducing means includes floating connectionmeans between each gripping means and its associated arm.
 12. The blankfeeding mechanism as defined in claim 9 wherein said reducing meansinclude pivot means having axes disposed generally in the direction ofsaid predetermined path.
 13. The blank feeding mechanism as defined inclaim 9 including means to each outboard side of said gripping means andbelow said hopper for bowing gripped portions of the lowermost blank asthe gripping means move from said first position to said secondposition.
 14. The blank feeding mechanism as defined in claim 9 whereinsaid moving means include an arm carrying each of said gripping means,said reducing means includes pivot means between each gripping means andits associated arm, and said pivot means have axes disposed in a planegenerally parallel to the direction of said predetermined path.
 15. Theblank feeding mechanism as defined in claim 9 wherein each of saidgripping means includes a gripping head, said reducing means is disposedbetween its associated gripping head and said moving means, saidreducing means includes link means pivotally connected Between saidgripping head and moving means, and means normally biasing said grippinghead toward said moving means.
 16. The blank feeding mechanism asdefined in claim 15 wherein said gripping means include vacuum meanscarried by each of said gripping heads for contactingly engaging a lowersurface of a gripped blank, means carried by each gripping head forcontactingly engaging an opposite surface of the gripped blank, andmeans carried by each gripping head and cooperative with its associatedvacuum means for forming a gap between the gripped blank and a nextadjacent blank.
 17. The blank feeding mechanism as defined in claim 16wherein said engaging means is an upstanding member having a relievedarea defining a shoulder directed away from said hopper, and said gapforming means includes an upstanding member normally directed towardsaid hopper.